Perkasa won’t protest against Indonesia

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali says a demonstration against Indonesia over cultural issue is unnecessary because it is not the stand of the Indonesian government.

PETALING JAYA: Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali has ruled out demonstrating outside the Indonesian Embassy in response to a demonstration where a Malaysian flag was burned by a group of 50 protesters in front of the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta last week.

“We have not discussed it but we would send a protest note soon. The issue relating to Indonesia does not involve its government, unlike Singapore.

“It is merely the sentiments of some people in Indonesia,” said Ibrahim, who is also Pasir Mas MP.

Perkasa had led a demonstration in front of the Singapore High Commission on Monday following allegations that the Singapore government is backing electoral reform watchdog, Bersih 2.0, to topple the Barisan Nasional government here.

The protest in Jakarta was held in reaction to the Malaysian government’s decision to recognise two traditional north Sumatran cultural items – the Tor-tor dance and the Gordang Sambilan musical ensemble – as part of its national heritage.

The group then proceeded to Malaysia Hall where they threw stones at the building. A security guard sustained slight injuries.

The issue was so controversial that an Indonesian parliamentarian, Ruhut Sitompul, told the Jakarta Globe that Malaysia should be “bombed as a form of shock theraphy”.

Parliament Speaker, Marzuki Alie, who was on a working visit to Malaysia on Monday, however, toned down the protest, saying it was carried out by people who did not share the common heritage of Malaysia and Indonesia.

Ibrahim also said human rights NGO, Suaram, was venturing into politics with its exposé of the Scorpene submarine deal.

“Who is Suaram to make an exposé? They are not the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. Their motives are purely political since they have not got the people directly responsible [for the deal],” he said.

Ibrahim also questioned Suaram’s ability to reveal information since the NGO is relying on France’s investigative judicial system.

Suaram recently announced that defence analyst Abdul Razak Baginda’s confidante, Jasbir Singh Chahl, was the first Malaysian to be subpoenaed as a witness in the Scorpene case hearing during a fund-raising dinner this month.